Stalk lifter



N. D. COLVIN Sgpt. 1.3, 1932.

STALK LIFTER Filed June 8. 1931 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS:

. N. D. COLVIN STALK LIFTER Filed June 8. 1931 Sept. 13, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

INVENTOR me wrzm BY 8M ATTORNEYS.

I Iv ha f/#35 alongside one side of a tractor.

Patented Sept. 13,, 1932 UNITED STATES.PATENTOFFRE N'QLAN n. COLVIN, or MoLINEjiLLINoIs, AssI LINE, rumors, A CORPORATION or ILLrNoIs STALK LIFTER Application filed June 8, 1931., Serial No. 542,749. 3 j

This invention relates to agricultural im- 7 plements, and more particularly to grain stalk lifters, having particular reference to corn stalk lifters adapted to be mounted Generally the object of my invention is to provide a shield for a tractor to liftgrain stalks which may be lying on or adjacent the ground, when the tractor is pulling a machine 1 operating on the grain, and when the tractor by the picker in order that-the tractor will not injure any corn which may have been blown down. This positions the tractor in a decided degree of offset with respect to the picker, and frequently'an attempt is made to balance the load on the tractor by attaching a Wagon alongside of the picker to the tractor 0 in an offset relation with respect to the tractor and'on the offset sidethereof. 1

When a two row corn picker is used, however, it has been found that a wagon, particularly when it is empty, does not balance the load when the tractor is'positioned so as to straddle a picked row 'two rows away from the rows being operated upon, as just explained. It is therefore desirable to position the tractor closer to the rows being operated upon in order to have more favorable pulling conditions for the tractor, but in such posi tion it is desirable and practically necessary to place a shield of some kind alongside the side of the tractor adjacent the corn in order to pick up whatever blown down stalks are in the path of the tractor. Such ashield must operate rather close to the ground in orderto be able to pick up said stalks, and

it is also necessary that said shield be capable of being lifted to a considerable height the tractor mechanism at any time, a

above the ground -in order to-"clear the ridges that are passed over crosswise when turning the tractor and picker at the end of the field.

One of the important features of my invention lies particularly in the manner iHWlllCl'l The the shield is mounted on the tractor. shield is spring suspended so thatit'will readily' follow any irregularities in the ground surface and is capableof bein'g'quick ly and easily raised a footor more above the ground for turning purposes. Furthermore it is generally necessary to have the shield extend rearwardly of the tractor sufficiently to 'prevent grain stalks from being run doWn V by'the rear wheels of the tractor as Well as by the front wheels, and since it is-frequently necessary to have access to the side of the tractor adjacent the shield, Imount the rear Non '10 DEERE & coMr AnY, OF, M -ag" portion of the shield about a vertical axis for pivotal movement awayfrom the tractor, so

that the operator may have easy access: to

Further objects and advantages of my invention' will appearcfrom the following vde-,

tailed description are preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which r l Figure 1 is, a top plan view of a tractor with my improved device mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is aside elevation of the combination shown in Figure 1"; 1 a a V 1 Figure 3 ,is a fragmentaryisection1nelevationtaken substantially on the 'lin'e 3'3 of Figure 1 and showing the method of mounting on the tractor; and o a Figure' iis a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line. 4.i of Figure 3.

Figure 1 discloses my improved shield mounted on one side of a tractor 1 having front wheels 2, rear Wheels 3, a longitudinal frame 4, drive-chain housings 5, and fenders 6. The shield shoWn 'in the drawings is mounted on the left'side of the tractor,and

is indicated in its entirety'by the reference character 11, and comprises :a front. shield part 10 and a rear shield'part 22. Front shield part 10 comprises a 'cur vedtoprp'ortion 9 rearwardly inclined and having associated forwardly thereof and pivoted thereto asheet metal floating shoe structure 12 tapering to ajpoint 12. I

The shield 10 is mounted on a framework comprising members 13 and 33, member 13 having a vertical portion 13b and a forwardly extending horizontal portion 13a and the member33connects the two ends of member 13 by being riveted or otherwise secured thereto. This framework is pivotally mounted on a transverse supporting member 14 rigidly fastened underneath the tractor 1 by depending arms 15 and 16 bolted or other: wise secured to the frame portion 4' of the tractor and to the member l4, as illustrated I in Figure 3. The framework comprising the members 13 and-33,.is pivotally supported on member l4'through a pivotal connection comprising a horizontal pivoting pin 17; The

'13 andin a rbracket or clip 39 riveted or othervxSise-secured to brace member 18 see Figure 4: V. 7 Frame member 13 is bracedagainst transverse stresses by means of a diagonal brace member 21 which is rigidly connected to the horizontal portion 13a of member'13 adjacent the forward end thereof (see Figure 1). This member 21' passes underneath the front axle ofth'e tractor and between the two front wheels thereof, and is pivotally connected at its rear end to the transverse supporting member 14 by means of a bolt 23. The member 21 therefore constitutes diagonal means for bracing the-shield. Said bolt extends through a hinge leaf 30 bolted or otherwise secured to one end of-the'brace 21 f bolt 23 are coincident with each other, that is they are inaxial alinement.

One or more supporting arms 7 are secured to frame member 33 inorder'to form a foundation'for the front shield. The entire frame of the front shield. iscovered with a suitable material, such as sheet metal, as illustrated at 26, riveted or bolted to the frame members 13, 33 and the arms 7. I i

,A pairof' hinges 28 and 29 are secured, as

bybeing riveted, to the vertical portion of the pin 17, respectively, each of said hinges havtically at its rearmost portion in order-to join the rearwardly extending. leaf, of-the upper hinge, thus forming a frameworkfor the rear shield part 22. Diagonal brace members 31 areconnected toisai'd upper anddowe'r portions, as by riveting, in order to provide a Vertically rigid framework. The rear shield part is also covered with suitable material,

such as sheet metal, as indicated at 27. The

hinges 28 and 29 are in axial alinement one above the other, and it will appear therefore that the rear shield-27' may be swung outwardly about its vertical axis away from'the tractor. A latch rod 32 is provided to hold the rear shield 22 in' its normal positionin alinement'with the front-shield 26, as best illustrated in-Figures land'4. vThe latch rod is pivotally connected at one-end thereof to the rear shield 22 by being-pivotally heldin a bracket 36- riveted or'otherwise secured-to;

both of the diagonal bracemembers 31 thereof (see Figure 2) and at the other end the rod has a depending portion 35 adapted to be loosely inserted down into a perforation in a bracket 34 mounted on thebrace 18 and exbut permitting the operatort-o manually release the same and thereafter laterally swing the rear shield 27, outwardly from the tractor in order'to have :accessto that side of the tractor for various purposes, such as cranking of the tractor by means of the fly-wheel,-v

which in the tractor illustrated, 'is on the shield, that-the portion of the shield forwardly of said pivot is heavier than the por-* tion rearwardly thereof, with'the consequential result that the shield normallypivotsforwardl-yand the shoe 12 normally-engages the ground. I have provided means for counter-balancing the weight of the shield in the form ofa counterbalancing sprin 24 .connected atone endtov a'bracket 25, bolted at the side o'f'the tractor frame 4 in ad'qance .of the point at which the transverse sup porting member 14 is connected to the tractor frame, as best illustrated inwFigure 1. The

oppositeend of the spring 24 is connected to the brace member 21 by means of a bracket 37 riveted-or otherwise secured tosaid mem- 14 with [they tractor the shield 11 for bracing said end ofthebar v framev forwardly v frame member 13 aboveand'below the pivot of the bar '14,, as illustrated ,in Figures 2 and 3. Another rigid diagonal brace bar extends upwardly and forwardly from the transverse supporting bar 14 tothe frame of the tractor 4, mounted to both, as by bolts, in 'orderto insure a rigid mounting of transverse supporting bar 14, (seeFigure "A brace bar 54 is bolted to the brace member 18 and extends upwardly and forwardly to'the top of the front shield 10 being bolted to a frame arm 7 thereof for rigidly supporting the curved top portion 9 of said front shield.

The floating shoe structure 12 comprises a forwardly and downwardly sloping pair of arms 12a. and 12b, pivotally connected as at at their rear ends with the forward end of horizontal portion 13a of the frame member 13 and thediagonalbrace bar 21, respectively,

said arms converging to a point 'at which the shoe proper 12 is rigidly secured. A piece of sheet metal 120 of substantially conical configuration is secured to thearms 12a and 12?), as illustrated, so that the uppermost portion thereof normally overlaps the lowermost portion of the upper curved portion 9 of the front shield 10 and has cooperating movement thereover by virtue of a lost motion bolt and slot connection 56 and 57 A rod 55, rigidly mounted on the forward portion of the'diagonal brace 21-, extends upwardly and supports the lowermost curved portion 9 of the front shield '10, adjacent the floating shoe structure 12. The rod 55 cooperates with the 1 rod '54 in supporting the upper curved portion 9 of the front shield 10. Upon engagement of the point 12 of the shoe 12 with" ground rid es the shoe oivots about its )ivot mounting 60. When the shoe is pivoted upwardly sufficient to cause the bolt '56 to contact the upper end of the slot '57 further upward lines in Figure 2,by-ii1eans ofa chain .and toggle link mechanism comprising a chain 40, a link 41 and toggle l1nks42 and'43l The chain 40 is connected to the upper endof-vertical portion frame member 13 and has anyone of its links hooked into a slot 41 provided for that purpose in the free end of'link 41. Said link 41-is pivotally connected to. link 42-at 44 and links 42 and 43 are connected together at 45. The link 43 is pivotally connected to an upright 46 which is bolted at its lower end to thedrive chain housing '5 of the tractor and is braced by means of strut members 47 and 48, Figures 1 and 2. The forward end of the link 42 is provided with an inwardly extending handle 49. The chain and toggle link mechanism, just referred to, constitutes a yieldable means for holding the shield 11 on its pivot axis 17, the chain 40,- being flexible,

" permits upward pivotal -movement of the said bar 50 being rigidly u wishes to lift the entire shield 11 vertically, into the position shown in dotted lines-in lifter in operative: position.

It is apparent thatwhen the operator Figure 2,. as when turning the. tractor and implement propelled thereby at the end of the field he merelyswings the link42 bymeans of handle 49 about its pivot 45 approximately 180 degrees until the handle 49 rests on the top edge of link 43. In this position the pivot 44 isbrought slightly below the line connectinlg pivots 45 and handle 49, and as a result of which the shield, 11. in its entirety will be vautomatically held in raised or inoperative position.

' shield resultingfrom the shoe l2 riding. over ridges, and acts as a stop for limiting downward pivotal move-mentof the shield; J r

Inoperation, the counter balancing spring j 24 connected to the diagonal brace member 21 not only tends to counter-balance the weight .of the entire shield, so that the point 12 of the shoe 12willreadily follow the irregularities of the ground, butalso it is easy-for the operator to raise and lower thesshieldi The chain and toggle link mechanism 40, 41, 42 and 43, act as a stop to prevent further lowering of the shield lleabout its pivot 1?,as illustrated by Figure 2- 1 v j I wish it to be understood that while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of iny'inventio-n, I do not wish to be lim ted thereto, as it isobvious that considerable changes may be made therein without deviating from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims. r What I claim is: r s

1. The combination with a tractor, of a stalk lifter, shield pivotallymounted on the tractor at one side thereof, the front portion of the shield being adapted to. engagethe ground, and diagonal means connecting the shield with the tractor for'hracing the. shield.

2. The combination with a tractor,- of-;a

grain stalk lifter shield pivotally mounted on the tractor at one side thereof, the front portion of the shield being adapted to engage the I ground, and diagonal means'pivotally mounted' on the tractor onthe opposite side thereof and connected with'the shield to bracethe same against lateralfstresses,

The combination with a tractor, having aframe, front wheels, and a front axle, of'a stall; lifter pivotally mounted on t-hetracto'r frame and at one side thereof, diagonalbrace means pivotally mounted on the tractorv on anfaxis coincident with. the pivot axis of the lifter and connecting the lifterxjadjacent the front end thereof with the tractor for bracing the lifter laterally of the tractor, said diagonal means extending under the front axle-of i the tractor and between the front wheels thereof, and means for yieldingly holding the 4. In combination, a; tractor having a frame and front wheels, a" grain stalk liftershield to the foremost portion of the front part of having a frame and extending. substantially the length and .height of the tractor and beits rear end pivotally mounted on the tractor frame on an axis coincident with the axis of theshield, and means for yieldingly holding the shield in a position whereby the floating shoe thereof is in ground engaging condition.

5. In combination, a tractor having a frame and front wheels, a grain stalk lifter shield extending substantially the length and height of the tractor and being pivotally mounted between its ends on the tractor outside of the wheels and on an axis transversely of the tractor, said shield comprising a pluralityof hinged together-parts one in front of the other and each having a frame, whereby'one part is adapted to be swung laterally of the tractor, a floating shoe pivotally connected the shield and adapted to engage the ground, and a diagonal member rigidly connected to the forward portion ofthe frame of the front part of the shield and extending between the front wheels of the tractor and having its rear end pivotally vconnected with the tractor frame on an axis coincident with the axis of the shield. V

6. In combination, a tractor having a frame I and front wheels, a grain stalk lifter shield extending substantially the length and height of the tractor, and being pivotally mounted between its ends on the tractor outside of the wheels and on. an axis transversely of the ofthe front part, a diagonal member rigidly connected to the forward portion of the frame of the front part ofthe shield and extending between the front wheels of the tractor and having its rear end pivotally mounted on the tractor frame on an axis coincident with the axis of the shield for bracing the front part against movement laterally of the tractor, and means for yieldingly supporting the shield in a. position. I

7. Thecombination with a tractor having a frame and front wheels,of a grain stalk lifter shield having a frame pivotally mounted on one side ofand outside of the wheels of the tractor on an axis transversely thereof such that the shield normally pivots about its axis whereby the forward portion thereof tends to of the tractor on anaxis coincident with the engaging means carried by the forward portion of the shield,'chain and link means for limiting the lowering of said forward portion, a diagonal brace connecting the forward portion of the frame of the shield with the frame of the tractor extending between the front wheels of the tractor,.said brace being pivoted at its-rear end to said frame T5 axis of the shield, and 'a counter-balancing spring having one end connected to said brace and the other end connected to the frame of the tractor forwardly of said pivot axes tendingto counter-balance the downward pivotal,

movement of said forward portion. v

8. The combination with a tractor, of a grain stalk lifter shield having a ground en gaging front portion, said shield being'pivotally mounted on the tractor on an axis transversely of the tractor and at one side thereof so that the entire shield pivots in a vertical plane and the front portion of the shield normally tends to engage the ground as a result of the shield pivoting downwardly, and counter-balancing means tending to counter-balance said downward pivotal movement. p

9. The combination with a tractor,pof a grain stalk lifter shield having a ground engaging front portion, said shield beingpiv otally mounted on the tractor on an axis transversely of the tractor and at one side thereof, whereby the front portion of the shield normally tends to pivot downwardly, chain and link mechanism connecting the shield with'the tractor for limiting said normal downward pivotal movement of the. shield, counter-balancing spring meanstending to counter-balance said normal pivotal movement and connecting the'tractor with the shield forwardly of said pivotal mounting, said link mechanism including toggle means mounted on the tractor and operative for rais ing the shield into inoperative position and automatically holding the same in said position when so raised. V e

10. The combination with'a tractor, of a grain. stalk lifter shield having. aground engaging front portion, said'shield being 3H5 pivotally mounted on the tractor on an axis transversely of the tractor and at one side thereof, whereby therweight. of the shield normally pivots the'shield so that the front portion thereof is lower'thanfthe rear portion, a diagonal brace connecting the frame of the shield to the tractor and extending be tween the front wheels of the tractor, said brace. being pivotally mounted to the tractor on an axis coincident with the pivotal mount- 14 5 ing of the shield, link mechanism connecting the shield with the tractor for limiting the normal downward lowering ofthe front portion of the shield, and a countenbalancing spring means connecting the tractor forward I30 11. The combination with a tractor,"of a grain stalk lifter shield having a ground contacting portion and being pivotally mounted on the tractor at one side thereof so that the shield is overbalanced and said portion normally contacts the ground, and

' means for limiting pivotal movement of the shield in one direction but permitting pivotal movement thereof in the other direction during operation of the shield in operative position caused by said portion riding over ground ridges, said means including a chain and toggle link mechanism manually operative for raising and holding the shield into transport or inoperative position.

12. The combination with a tractor, of a grain stalk lifter pivotally mounted on the tractor at one side thereof, and chain and link mechanism connecting the lifter with the tractor for limiting the pivotal movement of the lifter in one direction, said mechanism including means operable for raising the lifter about its pivot axis in the other direction to inoperative position, said means locking the lifter when in such inoperative position.

13. The combination with a tractor, of a grain stalk lifter shield pivotally mounted on and at one side of the tractor, a toggle link mechanism mounted on the tractor and including a link having a slot adapted to receive and hold any one of difierent links of a chain, a chain connected at one end thereof with the upper portion of the shield and having any one of its links held in said slot, said chain and link mechanism limiting the pivotal movement of the shield in one direction, and said toggle link mechanism being manually operable for raising the shield into transport position and being automatically operable for holding the same in said transport position.

14. In combination, a tractor, a grain stalk lifter pivotally mounted on one side of the tractor for movement into and out of stalk lifting condition, and comprising two parts, said parts being pivotally connected together whereby one part may be swung in a horizontal plane relative to the tractor, means for moving the lifter into and out of stalk lifting position, diagonal bracing means connecting the lifter with the tractor, and counterbalancing means for the lifter.

15. In combination, a tractor, a grain stalk lifter shield pivotally mounted at one side of the tractor for movement into and out of operative position and comprising two parts, said parts being pivoted together whereby onepart may be swung away from the tractor,-and1nans for holding theshield V V I i in inoperative position. 5

16. The combination with ing wheelhubs, ofa grainstalklifter shield pivotally mounted for movement into and out of operative stalk lifting position atone side of the tractor on an'axis transversely of the'tractor and extending insubstantially a vertical plane from a point'below a front a tractor have wheel hub to substantially the height of thetractor whereby grain stalks will be :prevented from contacting with the hubs, said shield comprising a plurality of hinged to gether shield parts,'one of said shield parts being adaptedto be swung horizontally, and

operative position.

means for yieldingly holding said shield in lifter shield p'ivotally mounted for movement into and out of operative stalk lifting 17 In o-mbination, a tractor, a grain stalk position on one side of the tractorandcomprising a'front and rear part pivoted together about a'vertical axis whereby the rear part is adapted to be swung away from the tractor, and means for releasably holding said rear part. 7 i a V y 18. The/combination with a tractor, of a grainstalk lifter shield extending longitudinally of the'tractor and being pivotally mounted at one side thereof on an axis extending transversely of the tractor for movement into and out of operative position,sai'd shield comprising a front and a rear part pivot'ally' connected together about a verti cal axis whereby the rear part may be swung away from the tractor, and releasablelatch means-forholding said rear part in alinement behind said front part, said front part having a declined forward portion and a floating shoe pivotally mounted at the foremost end thereof,-saiddeclined portion being curved inwardly of the tractor.

19. The combination'with a tractor having wheelhubs, ofa grain stalk lifter shield 'pivotally mounted for movement-into and out of operative stalk lifting position atone side of the tractor and extending in a' substantially vertical plane from a point below a front wheel hub to substantially the height;

of the tractor and being'of substantially the same length as the tractor, comprising a plu-" part in alinement with the front of a grain stalk lifter shield pivotally mount ed on the tractor at one sidethereof and outside of the wheels for vertical movement into' and out of operative stalk "lifting position o'nan axis transversely of the tractor so that the weight ofthe shield normally pivots the shield whereby the front portion thereof is lower than the rear portion, said shield being of substantiallyv the same height and length as the tractor and having a portion extending forwardly of the front wheels ofthe tractor and comprising a front part having a frame and anupwardly and rearward 1y inclined curved surface, said surface being curved inwardly of the tractor, brace means connecting the frame to the'tract'or frame 'to prevent lateral movement thereof including a diagonal brace member rigidly mounted to the front part of the shield and extending rearwardly between the front wheels of the tractor and under the front axle thereof and being pivotally connected with'the frame of thetractor on an axis in alineinent with the pivotal mounting of the shield, said front part having a floating ground contacting shoe pivotally mounted at the foremost portion thereof andadapted to engage the ground',,and a rear part pivotally connected with the front part on a vertical axis adjacent the transverse pivotal mounting of'the shield, whereby the rear part may be swung away from the tractor, manually'operable latch means for holding said rear part; in alinement with the front part, yieldable means for limiting the downward pivoting of the shield and the lowering of the front portion thereof including a toggle mechanism manually operable for piv- A oting the entire shield out of operative position, said toggle mechanism being operative automatically for holding the shield in inoperative position, and spring means connectedwith the frame of the tractor and the I diagonal brace member in advance of the transverse pivoting axis of the shield for counter-balancing the weight of the shield.

21. The combination with a tractor, of a stalk lifter shield p'ivotally mounted for vertical movement on the tractor and comprising'a plurality of hinged together parts, one

I of said parts being swing-able in a horizontal plane, and releasablemeans normally holding said one part against swinging.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribemy name this 4th day of June, 1931.

NQLAN D. COLVIN. 

